Following Whitefield’s death and entombment (and some would say enshrinement) in the Old South Presbyterian Church in Newburyport, MA, his followers worked quickly to preserve his memory. They ...
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Following Whitefield’s death and entombment (and some would say enshrinement) in the Old South Presbyterian Church in Newburyport, MA, his followers worked quickly to preserve his memory. They republished many of his writings and sermons. They printed memoirs. They perpetuated a legacy that continued to defy denominational and geographic boundaries. His tomb became a sight of pilgrimage, including ritualized handling of his skull and removal of trophies from his coffin. In many ways, Whitefield became more powerful as a symbol in death than he was in life.Less

A Transnational Icon

Jessica M. Parr

Published in print: 2015-03-01

Following Whitefield’s death and entombment (and some would say enshrinement) in the Old South Presbyterian Church in Newburyport, MA, his followers worked quickly to preserve his memory. They republished many of his writings and sermons. They printed memoirs. They perpetuated a legacy that continued to defy denominational and geographic boundaries. His tomb became a sight of pilgrimage, including ritualized handling of his skull and removal of trophies from his coffin. In many ways, Whitefield became more powerful as a symbol in death than he was in life.

America’s First Black Socialist: The Radical Life of Peter H. Clark is a political and intellectual biography of one of the foremost activists, intellectuals, orators, and politicians in 19th century ...
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America’s First Black Socialist: The Radical Life of Peter H. Clark is a political and intellectual biography of one of the foremost activists, intellectuals, orators, and politicians in 19th century African-American history whose life is a testament to the black radical intellectual and political traditions. As a black radical intellectual, Peter H. Clark (1829-1925) used education, oratory, and editorials to confront the American conscience, critique the hypocrisies in the national discourse, and articulate a radical, more inclusive, democratic, and egalitarian vision of America. As a pioneer of the black radical political tradition, he used radical political ideas to forge a path to full and equal citizenship for his people. He embraced everything from radical abolitionism to revolutionary armed violence to socialism. As the first known black socialist, Clark was just one of a few native-born American leaders in a movement dominated by German immigrants. He became one of the most influential of the American socialists and his socialist lectures between 1876 and 1879 stand as the foundation of early black socialist thought. Although he never held a formal political position, Clark proved to be an astute politician who used both parties as tools to get what he wanted for African Americans and himself: political power. He exerted great influence on legislators, Ohio governors, Presidents, and Supreme Court Justices-- all of whom knew him personally and sought his help in courting the African-American vote. In his quest for power, he employed every strategy imaginable, including critiquing his party from within, joining factional and third parties, playing machine politics, advocating political realignment and political independence, and bribery. This book ultimately chronicles the rise and fall of a man who became corrupted by an unrelenting quest for political power.Less

America's First Black Socialist : The Radical Life of Peter H. Clark

Nikki M. Taylor

Published in print: 2013-03-12

America’s First Black Socialist: The Radical Life of Peter H. Clark is a political and intellectual biography of one of the foremost activists, intellectuals, orators, and politicians in 19th century African-American history whose life is a testament to the black radical intellectual and political traditions. As a black radical intellectual, Peter H. Clark (1829-1925) used education, oratory, and editorials to confront the American conscience, critique the hypocrisies in the national discourse, and articulate a radical, more inclusive, democratic, and egalitarian vision of America. As a pioneer of the black radical political tradition, he used radical political ideas to forge a path to full and equal citizenship for his people. He embraced everything from radical abolitionism to revolutionary armed violence to socialism. As the first known black socialist, Clark was just one of a few native-born American leaders in a movement dominated by German immigrants. He became one of the most influential of the American socialists and his socialist lectures between 1876 and 1879 stand as the foundation of early black socialist thought. Although he never held a formal political position, Clark proved to be an astute politician who used both parties as tools to get what he wanted for African Americans and himself: political power. He exerted great influence on legislators, Ohio governors, Presidents, and Supreme Court Justices-- all of whom knew him personally and sought his help in courting the African-American vote. In his quest for power, he employed every strategy imaginable, including critiquing his party from within, joining factional and third parties, playing machine politics, advocating political realignment and political independence, and bribery. This book ultimately chronicles the rise and fall of a man who became corrupted by an unrelenting quest for political power.

This chapter examines Clark’s abolitionist career from 1853 to the end of the Civil War. The chapter’s premise is that the black conventions raised Clark’s consciousness, provided a forum for him to ...
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This chapter examines Clark’s abolitionist career from 1853 to the end of the Civil War. The chapter’s premise is that the black conventions raised Clark’s consciousness, provided a forum for him to develop his leadership skills, introduced him to a network of other leading African Americans, and fostered his maturation as a leader. It contends that these conventions were one aspect of black abolitionism, while his penning a history of an African American regiment during the Civil War was another. The chapter also examines his relationship with Cincinnati free thinking radicals Moncure Conway and August Willich.Less

“The Silver Tongued Orator of the West”

Nikki M. Taylor

Published in print: 2013-03-12

This chapter examines Clark’s abolitionist career from 1853 to the end of the Civil War. The chapter’s premise is that the black conventions raised Clark’s consciousness, provided a forum for him to develop his leadership skills, introduced him to a network of other leading African Americans, and fostered his maturation as a leader. It contends that these conventions were one aspect of black abolitionism, while his penning a history of an African American regiment during the Civil War was another. The chapter also examines his relationship with Cincinnati free thinking radicals Moncure Conway and August Willich.

This chapter provides an overview of the history of British-African interaction. It begins with pre-modern interactions which were very sparse. It goes on to focus on slavery as a major starting ...
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This chapter provides an overview of the history of British-African interaction. It begins with pre-modern interactions which were very sparse. It goes on to focus on slavery as a major starting point in British-African relations. It then proceeds to review abolitionist politics, missionary travels, colonialism, decolonisation, and post-colonialoism. It highlights the centrality of Christianity and liberalism in the ways that the British thought about Africa.Less

Africa–Britain: a short history

Graham Harrison

Published in print: 2013-07-31

This chapter provides an overview of the history of British-African interaction. It begins with pre-modern interactions which were very sparse. It goes on to focus on slavery as a major starting point in British-African relations. It then proceeds to review abolitionist politics, missionary travels, colonialism, decolonisation, and post-colonialoism. It highlights the centrality of Christianity and liberalism in the ways that the British thought about Africa.

This chapter reviews the major Africa campaigns in Britain: the campaign to abolish slavery, It analyses each campaign as part of a campaign tradition. It does this by connecting the campaign’s ...
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This chapter reviews the major Africa campaigns in Britain: the campaign to abolish slavery, It analyses each campaign as part of a campaign tradition. It does this by connecting the campaign’s efforts to represent Africa through frame analysis. More specifically, the chapter focuses on three forms of framing: diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational framing. The chapter highlights certain core practices of representation: the boycott, petitions, and the use of propaganda.Less

Africa campaigning in the framing: from abolition to Make Poverty History

Graham Harrison

Published in print: 2013-07-31

This chapter reviews the major Africa campaigns in Britain: the campaign to abolish slavery, It analyses each campaign as part of a campaign tradition. It does this by connecting the campaign’s efforts to represent Africa through frame analysis. More specifically, the chapter focuses on three forms of framing: diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational framing. The chapter highlights certain core practices of representation: the boycott, petitions, and the use of propaganda.

This chapter discusses the aftermath of the sale, beginning with the voyage from South Carolina to Rhode Island. The Vernons earned a 17% profit from the voyage, which led them to send the Hare back ...
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This chapter discusses the aftermath of the sale, beginning with the voyage from South Carolina to Rhode Island. The Vernons earned a 17% profit from the voyage, which led them to send the Hare back to Sierra Leone again in November 1755. The formal outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1756 helped to ensure that this voyage would lose money. The section goes on to profile the later lives of the Vernons, Godfrey, Manigault, and Henry Laurens, who purchased 9 captives from the Hare. It concludes with a discussion of the early abolitionist movement, highlighting John Woolman’s visit to Newport just a few years after the voyage.Less

Remittances

Sean M. Kelley

Published in print: 2016-05-02

This chapter discusses the aftermath of the sale, beginning with the voyage from South Carolina to Rhode Island. The Vernons earned a 17% profit from the voyage, which led them to send the Hare back to Sierra Leone again in November 1755. The formal outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1756 helped to ensure that this voyage would lose money. The section goes on to profile the later lives of the Vernons, Godfrey, Manigault, and Henry Laurens, who purchased 9 captives from the Hare. It concludes with a discussion of the early abolitionist movement, highlighting John Woolman’s visit to Newport just a few years after the voyage.